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Phans55
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
6000 Scholarship DrIrvine, CA 92612
(949) 724-1236
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sun 4:30 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
139 reviews for Phans55
Review Highlights
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"This review is just for their Pho, it was AWESOME." In 69 reviews -
"i reccommend the sea bass clay pot." In 6 reviews -
"The Spring Rolls were superb as was the Kalbi." In 18 reviews
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139 reviews in English
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Review from Robert H.
5/27/2012
This rating is for the bar and service.
We had a 12 person group that met here before heading to dinner at Il Forniao. The bartender, Duke, was very attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was upbeat, but not overwhelming. I really like the huge screen that they have for sports games. Prices were reasonable. -
Review from Shiva A.
Irvine, CA
5/16/2012 1 photo
Had an amazing lunch at Phans 55 today! The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. Our server Paula was attentive and really made our meal special.
We started off with the Imperial eggrolls and they were awesome. We wrapped them with lettuce and mint and topped them off with this sweet and spicy sauce... delish. For my entree I ordered a ginger claypot chicken. I've had claypot chicken before but Phans was the best I've had. The rice became crispy at the bottom which gave the dish a really nice texture. The chicken was very moist and tender and the ginger and shitake mushrooms really made the dish. For dessert I tried a coconut pineapple rum cake which was to die for. So good, I can't wait to come back!
Phans 55 is definitely the spot for Vietnamese food... come here you will not be disappointed! -
Review from Tou M.
Anaheim, CA
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
The pho broth is tasty and flavourful.. however for 10 bucks a bowl, it better be huge. However, its teeny tiny! It does taste good, and I did enjoy it, so I guess what you're paying for is the ambience.
Clean, modern, chic. With A bar.
Our waiter who also appeared to be the bartender was really friendly, and there were only 2 other people in there when we went at 430pm.
However, what I can't figure out is why it took them 20 minutes to make a bowl of pho. -
Review from Sandy V.
$10.00 for a large bowl but small portion of pho. Meh.. me thinks not again. The food wasnt bad but it was nothing to write yelp about. I found the place to be over priced and average. They use larger bowls but about a small fist full of noodles and about 7 pieces of meat. I personally will not be back. Typical Irvine pho place. Over priced, small portions, and average taste.
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Review from Michele L.
Pasadena, CA
4/5/2012
Review for pho only:
$10 for a bowl of pho can be justified if it were actually fulfilling. The amount of meat in the bowl of pho could be finished in approximately two bites. I really wanted to like this place because based solely on the quality and taste, the pho would would be 4 stars. But the portion is a real problem. Thus, unless they increase the amount of meat or decrease the price, they will never have a full house. -
Review from Angela C.
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here for lunch since it's so close to my work and Fukada was closed (must've been a Monday). I would characterize this place as upscale, Fusion Vietnamese food. The decor is modern and hip looking and they have some untraditional Vietnamese dishes on the menu.
I ordered their lunch special, which was a six-inch Chicken Banh Mi sandwich with a side of soup and sweet potato fries. I thought it was pretty good - better than I expected. The bread was firm on the outside but soft on the inside. The chicken was tender and the sauces were spot on. Overall, I still felt that this place was on the pricey side (my combo was $10). I can easily get a foot-long Vietnamese sandwich for about $2 elsewhere. -
Review from Steven Y.
Westminster, CA
5/23/2012
Got nothing really nice to say about this place except for their nicely decorated restaurant. Their food was mediocre. I was here for lunch, their food was over priced for what is worth. Recommend to go somewhere else.
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Review from Merle S.
CORONA DL MAR, CA
4/18/2012
This restaurant continues to SHINE!!! and that would be in the most delicious way!
The Pho has the richest and fragrant broth. To be able to order a small size for $5 is the best not only a great deal but one can get the joy and still have room for another dish! My fav at the moment is the tofu with eggplant. Seriously people, the Japanese eggplant is a totally different veggie than the one that may be more familiar. Yum!!! -
Review from Maria H.
1/3/2012
Nice little restaurant tucked away in a hidden location behind The Plaza high rise in Jamboree.
I tried:
Chicken Rolls: nothing special, had a subtle weird taste that I didn't like. --probably the herbs?
Lemonade: Freshly squeezed lime juice with a little bit of undissolved sugar in a tall Sling Cocktail glass full of ice....
Beef Salad: Edible! The grilled beef was kinda raw and I liked the shredded green apple.
Sweet Potato Fries: Bland unless you dip it in that pinkish cream sauce.
Beef Brisket Ragu: Star of the show!!! The beef had a very weird gross smell and was undercooked. Beef brisket has so much connected tissues and takes a long time to cook and I certainly think it wasn't cooked to perfection. The beef is wine braised and perhaps it was the cheap wine, but something just didn't do it for me. The ragu sauce was OK but the whole dish was underwhelmed and odorous. I'd say stay away form this one.
Their dessert menu doesn't have much to offer. We got the pyramid, was chewy, too sweet, and rich.
I don't think I would ever go there again. -
Review from Sidney S.
1/4/2012
"In food, as in death, we feel the essential brotherhood of man" - Vietnamese Proverb
A dear friend absolutely loves the Phans55 in Fullerton. Not wanting to drive that far, I tried the outpost in Irvine. Blessed with a (final?) visit by The Secret Agent, we noshed on particularly Americanized versions of spring rolls, salad, sweet potato fries, a laughable beef dish that reminded me of leftovers my mom made with Hamburger Helper and a chicken claypot, that while not reminiscent of a transcendent version that I had years ago at The Slanted Door in SF, was still a decent representation of the dish. The chocolate mousse dessert was the sweet ending equivalent to Donald Trump: Obscenely rich but but with a vacuous gaudiness and obviousness that belies an empty center. Hmmm...need to work on that analogy I think :)
Yet, I rather enjoyed the energy of this restaurant... family members or relatives appeared to be manning most stations, decent bar with a solid Happy Hour...unpolished but sincere service...the togetherness of the staff seemed to facilitate a really fun conversation with Secret Agent and I. It was a good start to a week where I am feeling better again after fighting a cold but facing a horrifically busy stretch at work.
This was proof with even unexceptional food you can still have a great time and I sincerely believe the restaurant was part of the reason why. Brotherhood of man indeed... -
Review from MJ H.
Newport Beach, CA
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
No MSG! Food is made to order using fresh ingredients. Any doubt just watch them prepare it in the open kitchen. Top that with a friendly staff. Give it a try!
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Review from Arthur A.
Irvine, CA
2/3/2012 2 photos
This is a DINNER review.
THE FOOD:
1) Pho Special - $11. This is a tough sell, when almost every other pho place within a 10 mile radius is offering pho at prices about 40% off, it's hard to justify spending this amount for a bowl of pho. No size choices, just one standard bowl of pho. Condiments to pair with your pho are also limited as well. They try to sell the fact that they use all organic meat, but at the end of the day the few slices of "organic beef" in their soup doesn't necessarily warrant such high prices.
2) Lemongrass Beef Stir Fry - $14. Tasty, but unfortunately nothing too special here. Paired with a small bowl of brown rice. This is definitely meant for an individual portion.
3) Spring Rolls - $6. Traditional Vietnamese spring rolls.
4) Ahi Tuna Rolls - $7. Initially the description leads you to believe they were serving sushi rolls here, however these turned out to be ahi tuna inspired spring rolls (wrap the spring rolls around a piece of tuna). The sauce pairing was fantastic, and this was actually quite a tasty treat.
THE AMBIANCE:
Ambiance is great. Chic, not too crowded, clean, and generally friendly staff. Huge projection screen near the bar area means this is a nice spot to catch the local game while relaxing at the bar.
THE DEAL:
The bowl of pho, a plate of beef, and two spring rolls would have normally set us back almost $50 here, and that's definitely hard to justify in this economy, especially for Vietnamese food which traditionally targets a more affordable market segment. However, Phan55 was a recent addition to http://restaurants.com. Now you can purchase $25 gift certificates for somewhere around $2-$3 on http://restaurants.com depending on the promotional code you use. The gift certificate is for $25 off $35, and after factoring in the automatic 18% gratuity, you end up spending about $20 here after all is said and done. Definitely not a bad deal!
BOTTOM LINE:
If you're ever in the area and want to relax, possibly catch a game, or have a drink at the bar... this is definitely a recommendation!! Add in the new found savings from http://restaurant.com, and you've found yourself another winner!! -
Review from Aaron L.
11/23/2011
VERY kind, friendly, attentive service; nice atmosphere, BUT:
- Weak drinks.
- Food is okay.
- Pricing is pretty steep for what you get, even during happy hour.
I'd recommend Phans55 if the lack of service and atmosphere typically associated with Vietnamese restaurants is troubling you. Otherwise, no.Listed in: Vietnamese in OC
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Review from Jamale C.
Irvine, CA
5/8/2012
This place is a gem. It's not a restaurant that you stop in once. If you're looking for a "cheap" dinner, go somewhere else. If you don't want to wait in lines, and you want a great dining experience along with wonderful food, this is your place. Sue and Tom don't skimp on anything. Sue makes sure that the ingredients are the freshest and best it can be, and Tom will pair any meal with a wine that will take this dining experience over the top. This is a small, upscale restaurant that calls you back, and the tastes and ambiance will make the experience worth every penny. The Pho is the best comfort food you'll ever have, and the service soon becomes meeting up with great friends. Most of the customers are regulars because ..... once you taste the freshness of this Vietnamese food, and the sincere friendship of this family-owned and operated restaurant, you won't want to go anywhere else.
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Review from Ramanda S.
Hermosa Beach, CA
12/20/2011
The food was decent. I had Chicken Pho and thought it was good although I could probably make the same thing at home. Never the less I thought the chicken in the pho was good.
The worst part about our experience was the drinks. They kept saying they were out of certain types of beer or liquor. When we did get our drinks the service was slow for a fairly slow night at the restaurant. There was certainly no quality put into the drinks. I ordered a specialty margarita that was mainly mixed with habanero peppers. I knew it would be spicy, but it was absolutely undrinkable. You couldn't even taste the tequila or mix whatsoever. It really seemed as if the bartender did not know his own craft.
Don't think I'd recommend this to my friends. -
Review from David v.
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Phans55 is an excellent place for lunch. I am also kind of curious to see how this place would be for happy hour considering its in the middle of one of the new condo highrises in Irvine. I can see the place being super busy with locals or dead because it is off the beaten path. Anywho... I digress. We were here for lunch and ordered the Sliced Rare Steak Pho (aka Pho Tai). Steak... beef. Same shit. Also, ordered some spring rolls to share. Both were quite good and I could definitely see myself coming here again. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
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Review from Jessica M.
Newport Beach, CA
3/15/2012
I wanted to try something new in the area that I work & I found Phans55. I called in and placed an order for tofu and vegetables Pad Thai. Yes I know, it's not a Thai place but the woman who answered insisted that it was good. It was a weird but kinda neat location nestled in an apartment community near campus and jamboree. Anyways bad for quick parking but I snuck in and out pretty quick. The food was great though!!! Very flavorful and their iced coffee was bomb. I'm definitely going back soon.
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Review from Jessica W.
Costa Mesa, CA
1/9/2012
In short: If you know what to order, you'll love this place for its slick vibe and sweet and savory flavors.
This place is Vietnamese fusion (along with some slightly random French/culinary dishes like Beef Ragu and Puff Parisien Seafood, rack of lamb, etc., that I have never tried). I don't consider their dishes or style traditional, and by the decor alone, I don't know why people would expect this. I consider it upscale casual, as some dishes (like fish) can be on the pricier side.
Tucked into a large Irvine apartment complex, Phans55 can be somewhat confusing to find if you don't know this. There aren't a lot of roads through it though, so you should see it eventually after some speed bumps. There's a strip of varied businesses. There are parking spaces in front, but should they all be full, I have no idea where you would go...Luckily this hasn't happened to me yet.
There is a nice ambiance at Phans55, with interesting decor in rich, dark colors. You can see most of the kitchen in certain seats. There is a bar and I've seen some sports projected next to it. If you are seated far enough into the dining area, it shouldn't bother you.
The food: Bear in mind that once I find something super tasty, I only try something new if someone else orders it. The Ha Noi Fish with Dill is wonderful. It comes with a huge pile of herbs and some peanuts and sauce on top. Each bite can be a little different depending on which herbs happen to be there. It comes with vermicelli (thin white rice noodles) with mint leaves (2 different kinds!) and a sour/tangy sauce for the noodles. To do it right, you need to pour some sauce on your noodles, rip up some mint leaves, and have it with the fish. A little work, but flavor heaven! Sweet, nutty, herby, and a few textures at once.
I also enjoy the Crispy Imperial rolls, and which are served as 6 halves paired with a tangy/spicy red jelly sauce, served piping hot. Other than that, I can only remember eating lemongrass chicken or beef, which was pretty good but not super memorable.
I've received good service here, no long waits or rudeness.
I sometimes visit just so out of town guests can taste the Ha Noi Fish. Totally worth it! -
Review from Sea J.
Huntington Beach, CA
8/24/2011
BLAH!!!! I should have listened to all the other reviews on the owner and service here! Horrible horrible owner is all I can say!
Our served was very sweet but the owner ruined it! Loud, rude and obnoxious!
The $11 bowl of pho was very small and mediocre in taste. For nearly half the price, I'd rather visit Thanh down the road for a much bigger and tastier meal!
Two stars for the mere existence of pho in the area and nice ambiance. -
Review from Kevin S.
Irvine, CA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review is just for their Pho, it was AWESOME! The service was really great too with the owner asking us how everything was. Now some of you would say $10 for a bowl of pho? That is ridiculous! They make their broth with no MSG and the best quality bones and meat. The glisten of fat on the top of the soup was incredibly decadent.
Don't believe the haters go get the Pho at Phans55 -
Review from Jennifer T.
Irvine, CA
8/2/2011
This is not the place that hits the spot for me when I'm craving pho, but it's decent. I came here twice, both on special occasions since the ambiance is nice.
The pho just okay. It's a little overpriced, and the both is a little on the greasy side. They don't offer enough basil or sprouts for the cost as well. Then again, they are not a specialty pho place as the restaurant is named Phans 55 Vietnamese Bistro and Bar.
I've also tried the cellophane noodles with Dungeness crab, eggs and scallions. Flavor wise, it was great, but portion-size was a little small for price.
Next time I visit, I think I'll stick to the plates. Perhaps then, my rating may be bumped up. As for pho, better luck in Westminister and Garden Grove! -
Review from Billy C.
Irvine, CA
9/29/2011
Just the fact that the floors are not slippery and the seats are not sticky is deserving of 4 stars for authentic Vietnamese cuisine. The awesome hospitality of the owner Susie and her extremely busy husband that's always working and wine tasting at the bar deserves the 5th star. Contrmporary motive, leather furniture, and custom harmonic light fixtures makes Phan 55 such an awesome place to enjoy lunch or dinner undisturbed, obstructed, and distress free. Awesome wine list, fantastic happy hour, not to mention the authentic, MSG free cuisine makes Phan 55 one of the rare hidden gems in Irvine. Tell Susie Billy recommended you and she will treat you like one of the family!
If you're thirsty after awesome pho, think MSG. The only place I eat pho without feeling like a rat that has just eaten rat poison afterwards! -
Review from Catherine Q.
Irvine, CA
6/22/2011
Over the top service.
The waitress comes over every 15 minutes to ask us how do we like our dishes.
And then when we were having our first course, this waiter came over and put his hand on my back when I was eating. He wants to know how is my dish.
Eeewww.....What's with the body language?
I can feel his sweaty hand palm on my back(My dress had this open back). It was odd.
You don't put your hand on customers back when they are eating. How awful.
Nice ambience. I do like those small lighting hanging above the bar. It looks like small jelly fish in the dark.
The food is tasty, chewy, thirsty after you had it.
We ordered beef spring roll.
It was tasty, but the beef was way over cooked(maybe it wasn't cooked today?), it was dry and chewy. Basically you will use your teeth like a saw to cut into the meat. Vegetable they use in the roll is a bit bitter. Weird combination.
I had Ha Noi fish. It was a normal fried fish topped with pan seared onion, dill and sprinkled with some salt. What has this fish to do with Vietnamese cuisine?
My hubby had steamed Chilean sea bass. It has this Teriyaki sweet, soy taste. The fish was juicy, but the sauce was way too strong. You are eating the sauce.
Illy coffee is the best thing in the whole menu, the macrons are lying in the glass vitrine for a very long time, not fresh for sure and all you can taste is the sugar, there is not much flavor on it.
We were there because a friend recommended us to, but I will not recommended any of my friends to eat there. -
Review from Andreas M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/12/2011
This is, in my opinion, the best Vietnamese restaurant in the area. The Special Pho is delicious, as is the Chicken Curry with Baguette and the Ginger Chicken. Suzie, the owner, is a charming lady who has trained her staff to provide excellent service. She is always in the restaurant making sure guests are satisfied. It's nice to be able to eat a bowl of pho without sitting in a dive or needing to skim off a layer of grease.
I could happily eat here every day of the week. -
Review from Jessica L.
Newport Beach, CA
3/28/2012
We LOVE this place. Totally a hidden gem on Jamboree. The food is really fresh, good flavor and good ingredients. Love the chicken rice claypot, ginger chicken. My other half loves the noodle dishes.
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Review from Mai N.
6/20/2011
A regular bowl of pho here is $10..eeek! On that note, don't come here unless it's for lunch or happy hour. The lunch and happy hour specials are half price on pho, certain appetizers, I believe, and some beer.
The food is decently good, nice presentation, nice owners, and good beer selections. It's not a place I would choose to go to but since my friend lives in the area and sometimes we just need pho, we have wandered in many times. -
Review from Rosa L.
Irvine, CA
6/9/2011
I visited a few days ago with my boyfriend and wow, was I impressed...
I ordered a bowl of pho because that's the only thing I ever get when I go to a Vietnamese restaurant haha I can never get myself to order something else. but DANG! I thought the best pho was in ktown in LA. This pho was ammmmmmazing! it was delish!!! It was a bit small in portion though :( The bowl was super big but not a whole lot in there.
My boyfriend got some fried rice with some meat. Everything we ordered sounds so boring but IT WAS SO GOOD! I had no idea fried rice could taste this good!
And to top it off...we tried their macaroons. MMMMMMMMM! it was actually our first time trying them so our opinion may not count for much on this one but it was so good!!!
We are definitely going back to this place! -
Review from Rick N.
Newport Beach, CA
8/25/2011
I think a lot of reviews prior think Vietnamese and think "must be cheap - $5 Pho from Westminster'.. or 'not good if not *authentic*.. thats not what this place is about, this is much more an upscale, urban take on the cuisine, mixed with a very comfortable nice room, great service, and, at least form my last meal this evening, pretty darn good food. '
Im actually wondering if I was at the same restaurant that many of the reviewers here at at? Susie Pham works the room like an old school restauranteur.. she seemed to know nearly everyone.. and spent the entire time making everyone feel at home.. including me.. on my first visit.
This sort of cuisine, and no, its not 'authentic' but a modern take on traditional vietnamese food, speaks to me in droves.. its just that good; Having lives in San Francisco for 12 years, this sort of food and take on it, is very common up there.. down here, it seems anything other than textbook traditional gets bashed. Its a shame, because there are some damn fine things to love about Phams55.
Basil beef, made with natural hormone free beef, was a HUGE portion.. with a lot of great quality tasty beef in a very very rich, onion, lemmongrass and spring onion sauce. It cold easily serve 2 moderately hungry people. Pho, always the hot point.. was actually quite good; certainly Ive had better, for less money, but thats not always the point.. I didnt want to drive a half hour to a dumpy pho house in Westminster, to sit under fluorescente lights with rude service tonight.. I just wanted some soup. It hit the spot quite well.
Im a fan.. and wil definately be back again and again. Location is beyond strange.. and you would never find it unless you knew right where to go, so make sure to check on map prior. -
Review from Donovan S.
Irvine, CA
Updated - 8/23/2011
20 of my closest friends and I celebrated my 40th birthday at Phans55 last Saturday night
Tom and Susie (owners) put together a fantastic tasting menu, paired each course with fantastic wines, and made the entire group feel special through their attentive service.
Note: My wife and I met with Tom 2 days before the dinner, spent less than 10 minutes discussing with him what we wanted, and his staff delivered!
My friends are very restaurant savvy and every one of them raved about the food and ambiance.
My friend who is a major vendor in the industry said it best ... "If their building could be seen from Jamboree, there would be a wait every night .. the food is that good."
It's safe to say that Phans55 just got 20 new fans!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/16/2010
If you're expecting a Westminster-style $5 bowl of pho, this is not the place for you. But this is… Read more »
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Review from Craig L.
Ladera Ranch, CA
5/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
First thing: parking here is a bit of a challenge here, so just park in the underground structure.
Once inside, you know you're not at a $6 Pho place. So if you're looking for a $10 Pho place, this ain't it.
But if you're looking for a spectacular meal with Beverly Hills style presentation and delicious flavors and variety, this is your place.
A great wine list complements the selection of delectable Vietnamese food, all presented in an upscale facility, this is it.
From clean bathrooms to five star service, this is by far the best Vietnamese dining experience I've ever had.
The owner, Suzie, greeted us at the door and our server, Angie was not only attentive, she offered to take pics of me and my date together.
To me, that shows that the staff is very professional yet human and warm which added to the experience.
The Spring Rolls were superb as was the Kalbi.
Again, don't expect a cheap meal, but if you're looking for top notch food and service in a premium restaurant that is devoid of the meat market and OC vibe, you simply must try this place. -
Review from Lisa n.
Irvine, CA
2/5/2011
So, I've tried this place a while ago and I'm not going to lie it wasn't the best first impression. I did give it the benefit of the doubt that it's new so I gave it a try again. So here's the 411.
Food: The quality of the food was okay. Nothing special about it. It's kind of a vietnamese fusion type restaurant. The food that they serve here are the typical "pho" and "spring rolls" that I can get from Westminster area. Except they put a really high price tag on it. I'm not going to lie, I've had way better foods in westminster than this place. The portions are freaking small too and they cheap out on a lot of ingredients.
Pricing: $10 for a bowl of pho?!?!?!?! holy moly you must be out of your damn mind!!! Way too pricey for a bowl of pho that I can get elsewhere for half the price.
Decor: I guess you pay for the decorations and atmosphere. I was a bit confused though because it had a mini bar which is more upscale but it was a restaurant too. I think it had a little too much going there. Just because it tried to be an upscale authentic vietnamese restaurant/ upscale bar/ club because it was too dark in there to be anything else....
Service: Not impressed one bit. She came in and greeted me because I was vietnamese and knew what everything should taste like. But right off the bat you can tell she's giving us the eyes like we don't belong there. As if she knew better than we did because we were younger. Well sorry big boss here's a bad rating. She paid no attention to the customer. She only greeted the customers that she wanted to greet. But if she has no interest in you, she will not visit your table again. The servers tend to walk past us like we don't exist. I had to wait at least 10 mins to get a spoon to eat my pho... Good thing I was vietnamese too otherwise they'd probably be talking behind my back. -
Review from Amy L.
Irvine, CA
6/22/2011
Ate here for lunch: once there, please ask for a separate Lunch menu that is separate from the "Lunch section" of the main menu they provide.
(I don't understand why they try to make pho so fancy) Their thing is NO MSG but that's what makes pho, PHO!!!
On the "secret" separate lunch menu, you can get a bowl of pho, 1 spring roll of your choice, and iced tea for $10
I ordered:
1. Pork Spring Roll
Lettuce, mint, noodle, cucumber, and pork.
Great combo of flavors but the pork was a bit dry but it's always better than under-cooked pork.
2. Pho Tai (Rare Beef)
Surprisingly oily...visible floating fat/oil in my broth. Very bland...wanted to ask for salt but my coworker emphasized that it's healthy pho.
No siracha or hoisin sauce so you better ask for some since it's not out on the table by default.
3. Organic Iced Green Tea
Hate it.
Doesn't even taste like green tea. -
Review from Robert P.
Newport Beach, CA
1/16/2012
After months of saying that we would try this place, my girlfriend and I finally went here for lunch. I was sick and in dire need of pho and definitely did not want to deal with a crowded pho house. As has been noted often here, it is a beautiful space and the owner was very gracious. The problem, at least today, was that she appeared to be the only one working the tables and it was fairly busy. My girlfriend, Tina, noted that it was not good to get the food served before we had been provided our place settings. That's the basis for my 3 star "A-OK" rating rather than a 4 star "I'm a Fan". I do want to be a fan, though. My House Special Pho seemed to be rather bland at first but that was likely due to my illness. As the hot broth opened up my sinuses I began to get the full flavor that I love so much about pho. Rich broth, noodles just right, the three styles of beef on par. The only complaint, again as has been noted, is the rather meager portion of bean sprouts and basil. Tina had the Imperial Spring Rolls and was quite satisfied (she is Vietnamese) after having Ms. Suzy replace the spicy sauce that came with it with her preferred fish sauce. I ordered the Curry Chicken as take-out for my dinner and I am hoping it's at least equally as good as the pho and spring rolls . . . I will let you know.
Over all, Tina and I agreed that we would come back occasionally, especially as it's the closest Vietnamese restaurant to her office, but we still prefer Thanh Restaurant. -
Review from T A.
Irvine, CA
1/8/2012
The food isn't great for the price. I know they claim to use "better" ingredients, and I'm all for putting healthier things in my body, but the taste doesn't offset the cost. I live walking distance from here, so I've been a few times. The happy hour probably has the most appeal. However, my last sit down dinner there with friends really turned me off. My husband ordered a seafood clay pot, it was over $20 (maybe $26?) and only had 3 shrimp in it. Really? I'd rather drive a little further to get more authentic food at a better price. Totally not worth my money.
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Review from Adam A.
Orange, CA
2/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had the sliced rare steak pho and thought it was so-so. It was flavorful and the broth had a bold body to it. At a $10 price point for a bowl of noodle soup, I just expected more, both quantity and taste wise. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
It looked like they had an extensive wine collection and they also had what looked like a sushi case.
Our servers were nice, however, the owner lady was a little annoying by constantly yelling and such.
Overall, if you're looking for a pretty snazzy hangout and want to overpay for a bowl of noodle soup, this seems to be the place to be at. -
Review from Christina D.
Orange, CA
2/28/2011
I admit it- I live in Southern California and never have had pho till today and that was totally by accident! I was going to another food place right next to this one and the other food place was closed on Monday so Phans55 got a chance to feed me!
Came in and was seated right away. It looks very fancy in here, other pho places I have driven by look non-fancy.
It was OC Restaurant week when I came in and you would think they would give you the price fixe menu with the regular menu but noooooooo, I had to ask for it and when I asked for it it was like "Ohhhhh, you wan't THAT menu?" Strike 1!!! Ok I can overlook that, but then it took too long for someone to take our order- Strike 2! There were not that many people there!
OK let's move to the food. I ordered off the Price Fixe menu and for $10 I got the following:
Iced Green tea- yummy! Actually flavorful and refreshing.
Spring Rolls - good, nice crunch, I liked the dipping sauce.
Beef Pho- the size of the bowl was huge, the noodles reminded me of capellini. The beef was OK, it was thin there were maybe 4 or 5 slices of it in the soup. The rest was just broth and onion really. I mean it was decent because I ate it but I don't think I would be OK paying $10 for just the soup. Soup for $10? I just can't do it.
So all in all it was a good deal for being restaurant week. -
Review from Violet K.
2/7/2011
overpriced vietnamese food. Just like quan hop.
At least this place doesn't make you get up and pay at the front like denny's.
I only love their egg rolls and they are stingy with their sauces.
viet places are meant to be ghetto with the sriracha sauce and hoison sauce bottle on the table. -
Review from sumer p.
Orange County, CA
12/7/2011
It's good but not good enough to pay their prices. The food to me is not worth it and if I never went back to this place I would not feel like I missed out.. Reduce your pricing you are a basic Vietnamese restaurant trying to think you are all thy and you aren't
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Review from Alicia F.
Huntington Beach, CA
12/25/2011
If I'm in the mood for pho, this is the place that gets me my fix! I usually like to enjoy a spring roll or other fresh appetizer as well. Fresh, tasty, and an overall consistent experience.
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Review from Stacey C.
2/1/2011
Decor is very modern so it feels very LA with some cool looking light hangers.
Food is OK. First time I went, I had the filet mignon shaken salad which I thought was good. 2nd time had their Vermicelli noodles w pork & shrimp...not so good. The one at Thahn is much better!
I would go here maybe to hang out for a cocktail & the American style food, certainly not for Vietnamese food as it is very pricey & not that good. $15 for Bun...& $10 for Pho? Sorry Phans, would not recommend.
